Two-piece bearing cage with side face grease carrying cavities

Abstract

A retainer portion of a cage of a bearing has a plurality of spokes and web sections extending between an outer ring section and an inner ring section with a plurality of cavities formed on an annular side face of the retainer portion. The cavities communicate with socket portions formed in the retainer portion to provide lubrication to rotational elements of the bearing. A latch and catch mechanism secures like retainer portions together to form a cage of the bearing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A retainer portion of a cage for a bearing, comprising:
 concentric inner and outer ring sections each having a cylindrical surface with an annular side edge, the outer ring section being separated from an inner ring section with a plurality of spokes extending radially therebetween, the plurality of spokes and respective portions of the annular side edges of the inner and outer ring sections bounded thereby defining a plurality of cavities of the retainer portion, the inner ring section cylindrical surface having a plurality of arcuate cut-outs extending through an edge opposite the inner ring section annular side edge, the outer ring section having a plurality of arcuate cut-outs extending through an edge opposite the outer ring section annular side edge, the arcuate cut-outs of the inner ring and outer ring cylindrical surfaces being radially aligned to form a plurality of socket portions each adapted to at least in part receive a rotational element of the bearing, each socket portion communicating with a cavity, at least one of the socket portions being defined in part by a chord portion extending generally radially between the inner ring section and the outer ring section to form a radial side of the socket portion, at least one of the spokes having a latch projecting axially from the side face between the inner ring section and outer ring section circumferentially adjacent the at least one socket portion across from the chord portion, and the outer ring cylindrical surface having an interlocking key opposite the outer ring annual side edge. 
 
     
     
       2. The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the spokes, the inner and outer ring sections, the at least one latch, and the at least one chord portion are monolithically formed. 
     
     
       3. The retainer of  claim 1  wherein the interlocking key is super-circumjacent the latch. 
     
     
       4. The retainer of  claim 1  wherein each socket portion of the plurality of socket portions has a chord portion. 
     
     
       5. The retainer of  claim 1  wherein each socket portion of the plurality of socket portions has a latch positioned circumferentially adjacent thereto. 
     
     
       6. The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the plurality of the spokes are formed with latches. 
     
     
       7. The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the socket portions each has a center and a portion of the plurality of the spokes are radially aligned with the socket portion centers. 
     
     
       8. The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the spokes are equiangularly spaced about the inner and outer ring sections. 
     
     
       9. The retainer of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is symmetrical about its centerline. 
     
     
       10. A cage for rotational elements of a bearing, comprising:
 first and second like retainer portions each comprising concentric inner and outer ring sections, the inner and outer ring sections each having a cylindrical surface with an annular side edge, the outer ring section being separated from an inner ring section with a plurality of spokes extending radially therebetween, the plurality of spokes and respective portions of the annular side edges of the inner and outer ring sections bounded thereby defining a plurality of cavities of each retainer portion, each retainer portion inner ring section cylindrical surface having a plurality of arcuate cut-outs extending through an edge opposite the inner ring section annular side edge, each retainer portion outer ring section having a plurality of arcuate cut-outs extending through an edge opposite the outer ring section annular side edge, the arcuate cut-outs of the inner ring and outer ring cylindrical surfaces of each retainer portion being radially aligned to form a plurality of socket portions, each retainer portion socket portion communicating with a cavity, at least one of the socket portions of each retainer portion being defined by a chord portion extending generally radially between the inner ring section and outer ring section to form a radial side of the socket portion, the chord portion forming a catch, at least one of the spokes of each retainer portion having a latch projecting axially between the inner ring section and outer ring section circumferentially adjacent the at least one socket portion across from the chord portion, the latch of the first retainer portion engaging the catch of the second retainer portion and the latch of the second retainer portion engaging the catch of the first retainer portion in a manner to secure the retainer portions together to form the cage with the socket portions of each retainer portion being in register and forming a socket adapted to receive a rotational element of the bearing. 
 
     
     
       11. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein the spokes, the inner and outer ring segments, the at least one latch, and the at least one chord portion of each retainer portion are monolithically formed. 
     
     
       12. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein each socket portion of the plurality of socket portions of each retainer portion has a chord portion. 
     
     
       13. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein each socket portion of the plurality of socket portions of each retainer portion has a latch positioned adjacent thereto. 
     
     
       14. The cage of  claim 10 , further comprising an interlocking key on the outer cylindrical surface of each retainer portion. 
     
     
       15. The cage of  claim 14 , wherein the interlocking key comprises a detent and notch formed on each retainer portion. 
     
     
       16. The cage of  claim 15 , wherein the detents of the first and second retainer portions engage the notches of the first and second retainer portions as the latches of first and second retainer portions engage the catches of the first and second engagement portions. 
     
     
       17. The cage of  claim 14 , wherein the interlocking key prevents rotation of the first and second retainer portions. 
     
     
       18. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the plurality of spokes of each retainer portion are formed with latches. 
     
     
       19. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of socket portions of each retainer portion each has a center and a portion of the plurality of the spokes of each retainer portion are radially aligned with socket portion centers. 
     
     
       20. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein the spokes are equiangularly spaced about the inner and outer ring sections of each retainer portion. 
     
     
       21. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein the retainer portions are symmetrical about their center axes. 
     
     
       22. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the plurality of the spokes of each retainer are positioned relative to the cavities to restrict an axial flow of lubricant out of the cavities. 
     
     
       23. The cage of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the plurality of the spokes of each retainer are positioned relative to the cavities to allow lubricant to be deposited in the cavities and to hold lubricant in the cavities during operation of the bearing in which the cage is installed. 
     
     
       24. A cage for a bearing comprising:
 a first retainer portion comprising:
 a plurality of socket portions each adapted to in part receive a rotational element of the bearing, at least one of the socket portions having a latching member adjacent a first radial edge of the socket portion and a catching member adjacent a second radial edge of the socket portion, the first radial edge being across the socket portion from the second radial edge, and 
 at least one antirotational interlock formed between at least two of the socket portions; 
 a plurality of cavities formed on an annular side face of the retainer portion communicating with each of the socket portions; 
 
 and 
 a second retainer portion comprising:
 a plurality of socket portions each adapted to in part receive a rotational element of the bearing, at least one of the socket portions having a latching member adjacent a first radial edge of the socket portion and a catching member adjacent a second radial edge of the socket portion, the first radial edge being across the socket portion from the second radial edge; and 
 at least one antirotational interlock formed between at least two of the socket portions; 
 a plurality of cavities formed on an annular side face of the retainer communicating with each of the socket portions; 
 
 wherein as the at least one antirotation interlock of the first retainer portion is engaged with the at least one antirotation interlock of the second retainer portion, the latching member of the at least one socket portion of the first retainer portion engages with the catching member of the at least one socket portion of the second retainer, and the latching member of the at least one socket portion of the second retainer portion engages with the catching portion of the at least one socket portion of the first retainer portion in a manner to secure the first and second retainer portions together. 
 
     
     
       25. The cage of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one antirotational interlock of the first and second retainer portions is formed on an outer cylindrical surface of the respective retainer portions. 
     
     
       26. The cage of  claim 25 , where in the at least one antirotational interlock of the first and second retainer portions comprises a detent and notch on the outer cylindrical surface of the respective retainer portions. 
     
     
       27. The cage of  claim 26 , wherein the detents of the first and second retainer portions engages the notches of the first and second retainer portions as the at least one antirotation interlock of the first retainer portion is engaged with the at least one antirotation interlock of the second retainer portion.